Hi,
some time ago I did some tests connecting Siemens PLCSIM to Blender 3d-graphics software. The blender game engine includes a small physics engine.
Blender is open source GPL software, but it's not really easy to use :-(

Thomas > Your examples look fine, but I still can't figure out how to use Blender - tried to use it before but gave up.
Anywho, your post have led me to further search the net, where I have stumbled upon EasyPLC @ http://www.nirtec.com/

@Thomas v2. Can you give more information about how you did the connection between PLCSIM and Blender? It looks cool...

I use the COM-interface of PLCSIM (S7ProSim) to read and write data out of and into Plcsim. The manual of the S7ProSim object you can find as pdf-document in your Siemens Plcsim installation folder (e.g. C:\Siemens\Plcsim\s7manual\s7wsi ).

In Blender it is possible to use python as additional scripting language. I've written a small python-class which does the COM-interfacing to Plcsim.
You can add some trigger actions to Blender-objects. For example a "light barrier" object calls on collision a python function.. The function sets or resets a bit in the PLC.

If you once understood the unusual control concept of blender, it's fairly easy to use.

I've added a screenshot how the blender objects are connected to the plc-addresses. The project is the conveyor demo from youtube.

Hello, I've also been looking for a way to visualize PLC-data in a 3D-environment. I've tried Blender but it's a bit difficult to learn without any examples. Could you perhaps share your Blender-project with us so I can learn from it?

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas_v2

I use the COM-interface of PLCSIM (S7ProSim) to read and write data out of and into Plcsim. The manual of the S7ProSim object you can find as pdf-document in your Siemens Plcsim installation folder (e.g. C:\Siemens\Plcsim\s7manual\s7wsi ).

In Blender it is possible to use python as additional scripting language. I've written a small python-class which does the COM-interfacing to Plcsim.
You can add some trigger actions to Blender-objects. For example a "light barrier" object calls on collision a python function.. The function sets or resets a bit in the PLC.

If you once understood the unusual control concept of blender, it's fairly easy to use.

I've added a screenshot how the blender objects are connected to the plc-addresses. The project is the conveyor demo from youtube.

Hello, I've also been looking for a way to visualize PLC-data in a 3D-environment. I've tried Blender but it's a bit difficult to learn without any examples. Could you perhaps share your Blender-project with us so I can learn from it?

Hi,
I've written a small documentation how you get blender and plcsim to work. It's written in german, but there are several screenshots in it so I think the basic installations you will get without understanding german. Otherwise ask for the missing things.

Hello Thomas,
You have some really nice work! Are you still able to share information regarding this work?
Thank you,
Dr.SITRAIN.USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas_v2

Hi,
I've written a small documentation how you get blender and plcsim to work. It's written in german, but there are several screenshots in it so I think the basic installations you will get without understanding german. Otherwise ask for the missing things.